Tired of dealing with hyperpigmentation? 🌝

Ever heard of Hyperpigmentation?

Hyperpigmentation refers to patches of skin that become darker than the surrounding areas of skin. It occurs when the skin produces excess melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. “Hyper” means more, and “pigment” means colour.

Types of hyperpigmentation include:

1. Age Spots: Brown or black spots that appear on the skin caused by overexposure to the sun. Commonly found in older adults or those with extended sun exposure (typically face and hands).
2. Melasma: Large patches of darkened skin often on the cheeks and forehead (it can affect other parts of the body too). There are two main causes of melasma: Ultraviolet and infrared radiation from the sun and hormones. Melasma is very common among women, especially pregnant women & women who take birth control pills, because of hormonal changes.
3. Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH): Spots or patches of darkened skin that appear after an inflammation on the skin such as injury, acne, eczema or other trauma.

Some medications and certain health conditions can also lead to hyperpigmentation.

What triggers hyperpigmentation?

Triggers include sun exposure, hormonal changes and trauma to the skin. Picking at scabs and spots may make it worse. Other factors include genetics, age and skin damage.

How do you get rid of hyperpigmentation?

Most cases of hyperpigmentation can be improved over time after the underlying cause has been removed and/or managed. Treatment often begins with a skin care regimen composed of a daily sunscreen, brightening ingredients & depigmenting agents. Hyperpigmentation can become more pronounced when skin is exposed to the sun because melanin absorbs the energy of the sun's harmful UV rays in order to protect the skin from overexposure. The usual result of this process is skin tanning, which tends to darken areas that are already hyperpigmented. Wearing broad spectrum sunscreen is a must.